The Shortest Man Ever Measured Has Died

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13 Nov 2014, London, England, UK --- epaselect epa04487614 Chandra Bahadur Dangi (L) from Nepal and Sultan Kosen from Turkey pose for photographers during a photocall for the Guinness World Records in London, Britain, 13 November 2014. Dangi (54.6 cm) is considered the smallest living person and Kosen (251 cm) is a Turkish farmer who holds the Guinness World Record for tallest living male. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA --- Image by © FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/epa/Corbis
Chandra Bahadur Dangi, formerly the world's shortest man, posing with the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen from Turkey, during a photocall for the Guinness World Records in London on Nov. 13, 2014.Facundo Arrizabalaga—EPA/Corbis
By Charlotte Alter

The shortest man ever measured has died at 75, standing just 21.5 in. tall.

Chandra Bahadur Dangi, the Nepalese man who held the Guinness World Record for shortest living man and for smallest man ever measured, died Friday in a hospital in American Samoa, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed his death in a statement.

Last year, Dangi met the world’s tallest man, Sultan Kösen, at an event in London. Kösen, who is 8 ft. 3 in. tall told the Telegraph that despite their height differences, he and Dangi “have similar struggles.” “I look into Chandra’s eyes, I can see he’s a good man,” he said.

“It’s been a lifelong dream to travel and becoming a Guinness World Records title holder has enabled me to do that,” Dangi told the Telegraph. “It makes me extremely proud to represent Nepal all around the world, I’m extremely humbled by the support I receive.”

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Write to Charlotte Alter at charlotte.alter@time.com